Author: admin

Rush rush rush.

That might describe our day, our week, our life!

Our head is full of tasks and noise and the busyness of our existence.

To think clearly we can take two minutes to be mindful – to quieten the noise and to be calm for a moment.

Today we can find a point in the day when we can sit quietly and instead of working we can place our feet flat on the floor, close our eyes and listen to the world around us.

Just listen. Hear our breathing, hear the sounds of birds and cars outside our office. Hear the wind in the leaves. Hear the tick of a clock or the distant toot of a train.

No work. No rush. Just listen.

Two minutes of being in the world. Being mindful.

Then we can open our eyes, breathe softly and notice how calm we are. With a quieter head our thoughts have had space and time to flow and gel. Work seems to flow more smoothly and we feel happier.

Be mindful today for two minutes and enjoy life.

Next week: Holding the silence.

I was prompted to think about this question by a client who was setting up in business. She talked about her ambitions for her business and the reasons for switching from full time PAYE employment to full time PWYGAC employment.*

She talked about the recent course she had completed and she talked about her desire to be free from the classic 9-to-5 office routine. She talked about a lot of things and yet she was vague when I asked her about some more business focussed items.

This is to be expected when people follow their heart (good for them) and have to peddle at double speed to simultaneously graft on some business skills. As our conversation flowed she stopped talking and I started. I talked about my three favourite essential items for business success:

1. Cashflow forecast.
2. Clear sense of differentiation.
3. Networking mindset.

Without cash we have no business and so it makes sense to have a simple spreadsheet that maps the flow of money-in and money-out over the next two years. Profit and Loss spreadsheets can be misleading as we can run out of cash before the profit is fully realised. Also, the amount of cash that gets tied up in the business is our working capital. Working capital is like bath water – we need enough for a happy soak…too little and bits of us get cold! How warm/cold are you at the moment?

We can differentiate products or services by pointing out the combination of factors which make them, or us, unique. This gives clients a clear choice and in turn means some of them will choose us. What makes you unique? A good tip is to list 3 or more things….For example, I’m the only business coach I know who combines Lean thinking with Transactional Analysis and has written 6 business books.

Sales success is about engaging with people. People buy from people and networking enables us to meet new people, maintain existing relationships and expand our business sphere. Time spent with people is never wasted. We can network at business clubs, on Twitter, with LinkedIn, at reunion events and within professional organisations and trade bodies. How many people know what you’re looking for?

Whatever line of business you work in, networking, differentiation and cashflow affect all of us. Choose one of them this week and have fun thinking about it.

Next week: Mindful minutes

*Paid When You Get A Client …working for your yourself is still a proper, full time job….just a bit more risky sometimes, that’s all.